In The Middle Ages, the Christian faithful grew reminders of Mary, Mother of God in their gardens.

Each herb represented one of her virtues. Foxglove was our lady’s drying plant, primrose our lady’s keys and lily of the valley our lady’s tears. This tradition gave rise to the familiar Mary’s gold (marigold and virgins bower (clematis). 

Let me tell you a little story. Some friends and I had just started playing the card game 500 with a larger group. Being new to the group, we needed some practice and since Sundays can be lonely for singles we decided to spend our Sunday together. Our team of 4 started the day with 10:30 Mass followed by coffee and donuts (for us they are Do– Nots!) and then headed to a bar to play cards. Yes, that’s right the bar, but wait until you hear what happened.

At the restaurant we had a waiter named Walter. I was curious and asked my friends if they thought he was from Greece. As he approached us I casually asked him where he was from. He said he was from Puerto Rico. I asked him how are things down there with the damage from the hurricane and he said that his daughter is down there with no electricity. I asked him what brought him to Minnesota and he told us that he is in treatment for alcoholism after his marriage fell apart. He would come and go as he kindly waited on us.

Then led by the spirit I asked my friends, “Ladies who has a medal on them?” Two of them pulled off their own miraculous medals and handed them to me. I set them on the table with my hand over them. He came back and that is when the miracle happened. I asked, “By chance are you Catholic? “He said, “Well, I was but not really any more…” I lifted my hand and asked, “Which medal would you like ? “(2 sizes) He said with a big smile “I’d like them both.” We were elated. We handed Walter over to the Blessed Mother as he accepted these medals. We never saw Walter again, but we still pray for him. We were all changed that day.

While waiting for God’s timing and spirit to move us, we began our evangelizing. One of the ladies was so moved, that she ordered miraculous medals, chains and cards explaining the medal. She made up bags of 50 for others to hand out and had them blessed by our Pastor. She gave 50-100 to the Associate Priest for his next assignment as chaplain at North Memorial Hospital to hand out to patients. He was thrilled!

Well this was so much fun going to different bars to play cards and evangelize. We found our favorite bar, “Lucky 13” and went there quite regularly on Sundays to eat, drink, play cards and laugh. They got to the point where they were expecting us!

Shortly there after, we met a waiter whose name was Logan. He was a man of integrity, humor and respect. He was the dream guy every mother would wish for her daughter. We then asked him his nationality and if he was Catholic. He said “I was raised Catholic but…” So, we asked him if he’d like a miraculous medal. With an extra large smile he took it and said he was going to be deployed to the Middle East in a few months and he would take this with him. We loved this young man and he grew to love us. So again we prayed for him and asked that Our Blessed Mother love him into service for the kingdom of God.

This has become a fun way of listening, praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit to move us one step at a time as we live our daily lives. I must say it has been fulfilling to gather as a community of loving believers to fill different pieces of the conversion. Medals have since been given to friends, family, strangers, nurses. And so, God smiles as we give and receive. As a result the world changes for the better. Make a friend, be a friend and bring a friend to Christ.

Roxanne Weldon 

The greatest message I was humbly reminded of from my accident is to reach out to others especially in time of need and the greatest lesson is to ask for help. It’s so reassuring to know that others are thinking, caring and praying for you. Never under estimate the value of a simple call, card, visit or meal. It can lift your spirits when you need it the most and the spirits of those caring for you! “Let me be as Christ to you,”

People often say, “Everything happens for a reason”. My belief is, bad things happen and God helps us see the good that can come from it.

Tim and I planned a 3 week vacation to Naples Florida where my mother is a snow bird. Our goal was to get her settled and begin an exercise regime. Our 2nd day of exercise I was hit by a car standing on the curb straddling my bike at an intersection waiting for the car to turn right. The driver never looked to the right and turned onto the busy road and knocked me flat to the ground. I hit my head on the pavement and had terrible pain in my left leg. I was driven to the Naples high school by ambulance where a helicopter was waiting to take me to Fort Myers to the trauma hospital.

I was treated in the ER and waited in the hallway for 4 hours with a dozen other patients for a bed to open up. I had surgery the next day for an open or compound fracture of my tibia in which they inserted a rod and 4 screws. I also had a fractured fibula and tibial plateau which did not require surgery.

Bad things happen. How did God work in my life and our life?

+ I decided to wear a helmet that day, often I did not. I thank both God and my sister that I did. Julie bought the helmet, God inspired me to wear it.

+ The driver stopped (not a hit and run) and asked, “What can I do?” I told him to call 911.

+ God sent me a guardian angel after I was hit and laying on the ground. She knelt down and said to me in a soft gentle voice, “Hi my name is Jess and I am a nurse and I am praying for you. Who can I call?”

+ I had a wonderful place to recover. Mom’s living room turned into a rehab center.

+ Tim had just retired from St. Hubert’s and was available to be a 24/7 caregiver, coach and deacon for me.

+ Our daughter, a nurse, flew down for a week to care for me when I came home from the hospital. Our son and daughter in law and their twin girls were already there as they were on vacation. Our youngest son flew down for a long weekend 3 weeks later. It made me think they were coming to see me for the last time!

+ I did not have any complications from surgery.

+ God sent family and friends to help support us through prayers, cards, calls, meals, and visits.

This experience was very humbling for both Tim and I. Having retired from a nursing career of 40 years and Tim retiring from being a deacon for 20 years and having worked in health care for 25 years, it gave us a perspective of having the tables turned! Our role was always to help others not receive help. “Pray that I may have the grace to Let you be my servant too.” The Servant song, rang true as others became servants to us.

DeColores, Jackie Helmeke 

How often do we say, “yes” when we feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit?

I’m convinced that when that happens, only good things come of this.

When I received the call last September to serve as rectora for weekend 366, I had no plans to serve on any team in 2018. I had already made “my” plan to take the year off as I’d just finished serving a series of 3 weekends. But the Holy Spirit had other plans for me! I quickly could see that my plans were not His plans and though I needed to pray and discern the invitation I had just been invited to, it felt right for me to answer that call with a “yes”. Sometimes we may feel uncomfortable with invitations such as these, but as Pope Benedict XVI reminds us, “We aren’t made for comfort, we are made for greatness.”

As I began to think about my team formation, I prayed that I would have enough people come forward so I wouldn’t have to wait too long before I could start the placement process. Well that prayer was quickly answered! God didn’t want me to be discouraged by my “yes”; he brought forth an abundant group of laborers for the harvest.

As the weekend began, there were many candidates that came with reservation and anxiety, like many of us have. Like anything in life, when we feel that we are personally accountable for the success of something we plan – you pray and rely on His love and mercy to make it happen and it happened! Watching the transformation from Thursday to Sunday was such a joyful gift. There were many obstacles along the way, we’ve all seen it happen on weekends before and once again, the power of prayer through your palanca and the Palanca Team, provided the energy from the Holy Spirit to keep our candidates strong as the weekend unfolded and came to a close. The gift of so many close and holy moments, memories and friendships; these pinnacle moments would have been left unopened in my heart, had I not said “yes”. Afterwards, many of the team commented how much they enjoyed where they were called to serve on weekend 366. God is so good!!

So what’s next for me? I have been hearing about many open positions in secretariat and ultreya rep seats needing to be filled. Since I had already served as an ultreya rep, I was discerning if I was being called to something else. Well, another nudge has come about and I feel I have been called to serve on Post-Cursillo. I’m not certain how comfortable I am with this new role, but I’m reminded Cursillo doesn’t just happen, it takes many laborers for the harvest to be abundant and if not me, then who? In Acts 6:1-7, we read about when more priests were needed and the first deacons were ordained. As lay people of the church, we also need to answer the call at some point; to pay it forward if you will and to keep the gift of Cursillo alive and continuing to unfold for future candidates and future generations. We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with our God.

HE has blessed us all with many gifts and talents, don’t be afraid to say “yes” when you hear or feel that nudge to serve our community, for only good things will come of this.

De Colores!

Mary Beth Kroyer 

“He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You
are my servant, he said to me, through whom I will
show my glory.” Isaiah 49:2-3

In Part 1, we covered that we are meant to be a “Polished Arrow” in the Lord’s quiver. If we are surrendered and obedient to Him, He can use us as a vessel for His power and purposes at a moments notice to accomplish His will. We covered the basic components of a Polished Arrow as an analogy to the Spiritual Life. In Part 2, we reflected on the making (preparation) of a Polished Arrow that would be fit for the Lord’s Quiver – not an easy process, but a fruitful one. In this last in the series Part 3, we will cover The Engagement of a Polished Arrow, as an Easter reflection on truly being a vessel of God’s resurrection power in and through your life – which is the ultimate goal of discipleship and making a difference for Christ in the world.

In our Catholic faith, we have so many examples of “Polished Arrows in the Lord’s Quiver” in the Company of Saints. They bear witness to “dying to self” in order to become a vessel for God’s power and purposes, and whose lives as “Polished Arrows” give glory to God by making God’s Resurrection Power alive and real in the lives of His servants. If we truly understand that we are all meant to become saints, we can reflect often on what it means to desire this conversion of heart and transformation. If we desire to be a vessel for God’s purposes, and allow ourselves to be prepared by the Lord as a conduit for God’s power, it will lead to the three hallmark characteristics of a true “Polished Arrow”: Humility, Trust and Perseverance.

Let’s use the example of the Holy Family as the finest possible examples of being a Polished Arrow in God’s Quiver, and the miraculous power and divine fruit that can result:
Jesus – as the Son of God, Jesus showed us the way of true humility, trust, and perseverance – most especially during his passion and death when he humbled Himself to die on a Cross for our sins, trusted completely in the Father’s plan and mission for Him, and persevered in faithfulness to the end to give the Father glory and honor.

Mary – as the Mother of Jesus, Mary too modeled for us such incredible humility of heart, trust in the Father’s “unbelievable” plan and what He asked of her, and perseverance in faith and love through the suffering and sacrifice the Father’s plan required of her.

Joseph – as the foster father of Jesus, St. Joseph also shared the same humility, trust, and perseverance that allowed the Father’s plan to come to fruition through his obedience. Joseph may be the member of the Holy Family that we can most directly relate to. I wrote this the day after the Solemnity of St. Joseph, and an excerpt from The Magnificat meditation by Pope Francis on St Joseph says it all about being a true “Polished Arrow” for the Lord:

“By accepting himself according to God’s design, Joseph fully finds himself, beyond himself. His freedom to renounce what is his, the possession of his very life, and his full interior availability to the will of God challenge us and show us the way.”

I pray that God will grant us all the grace to become and live as “Polished Arrows in the Lord’s Quiver”. Go now, as a living sacrifice and vessel of God’s Resurrection Power! He is Risen!

Bill Bojan 

God Has No Grandchildren
(Forming Intentional Disciples, Sherry Weddell)

One of the unexpected fruits of working as Assistant Rectora for weekend 366,has been attending Twin Cities Cursillo Leader School. Held the first Tuesday every month, the February meeting discussion was about engaging twenty to thirty year olds in the Cursillo movement. For many of us, this is our children, grandchildren or friends.

I would like to propose that all Cursillistas get a copy and read Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell. Let me warn you that the first chapter sets you up with a rather grim outlook of statistics on the current state of our church. Keep on reading. The remainder of the book will offer life changing insight to all we do in our efforts of piety, study and action. You will discover what is “normal” for lay Catholics, learn the “thresholds” of conversion, how to tell the Great Story of Jesus, given encouragement to “break the silence” and more.

Cursillo is specifically mentioned on page 121, “Sacraments that bestow a character can be “revived” when the recipient comes to personal faith, repents, and chooses to follow Jesus Christ as a disciple in the midst of his Church. This fact is the “secret” behind the tremendous impact that evangelization retreats like Cursillo, Christ Renews His Parish, and Life in the Spirit Seminars have had on millions of Catholics over the past seventy years.”

All evangelization begins with walking side by side with the people in our environments. Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ. Don’t skip a step. Live authentic relationships without an agenda. Indeed, some people in your circle of evangelization may convert to Christianity, some may enter into the Catholic Church and still others
attend a Cursillo weekend. Here’s the bad news. Any of these steps could take years or decades and you may not ever see fruits!

With that said, it is essential for us to learn the skill of what Sherry Weddell calls a “Threshold Conversation”. This begins with a listening opportunity by asking “Can you describe your relationship with God up to this point in your life?” The key is to listen and only ask questions. It is not a time to correct theology or argue teaching of the church. Sherry Weddell tells us to never accept a label for a story and EVERYONE has a story. Let them tell their story. Most Threshold Conversations conclude with “ If you could ask God one question and knew he would answer right away, what would it be?” Let me tell you, this question can reveal the depths of our hearts.

Let’s learn to engage in Threshold Conversations with our own children, grandchildren, and friends who are the twenty and thirty somethings in our life. Ask them what their lived relationship with God has looked like up until this point in their life. Allow space for them to tell their story. Be open to continuing the conversation over the course of time. Trust the Holy Spirit is working to draw you and your family/friends on “the path to knowing and following Jesus”. Walk with the people God has placed in your life, be amazed at where our Lord will take them and you. And don’t forget to ask yourself- can you describe your relationship with God up until this point in your life? And if you could ask God one question and knew he would answer right away, what would it be?”

Tonya Beck 

He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, through whom I will show my glory.

Is 49:2-3

In Part 1, we covered that we are meant to be a “Polished Arrow” in the Lord’s quiver. If we are surrendered and obedient to Him, He can use us as a vessel for His power and purposes at a moments notice to accomplish His will. We covered the basic components of a Polished Arrow as an analogy to the Spiritual Life. In Part 2, Lent is a good time to reflect on the making (preparation) of a Polished Arrow that would be fit for the Lord’s Quiver.

I have read or listened to a number of really good Christian theologians and speakers on this topic of being a “Polished Arrow” for the Lord. One of the best is Jeff Cavins’ DVD/CD on this subject, called: “Polished Arrow – The Process of Conforming Your Life to Christ” based on Is 49:2-3. I would highly recommend watching this excellent teaching if this topic moves you. One thing is clear: that the making of a strong and straight arrow that will consistently allow the Archer to “hit the mark” with this arrow is often a drawn-out process that has amazing parallels to our life in Christ as a disciple. As one writer put it: “In the hands of an Old Testament archer, a piece of wood went through a long and time-consuming process before it became a polished arrow. Even now, the process requires great patience. Precision arrows cannot be made in haste.”

There is a process of taking the original piece of wood, and cutting errant branches (major sin), pruning smaller excess branches (lesser sins), stripping off the bark (ways of the flesh), and removing knots (strongholds) and burrs (bad habits). Next, the wood needs to be shaped through significant sanding (making the crooked places straight), and soaked in water to expose the wood grain (we soak in the water of the Holy Spirit to reveal the inner workings, thoughts and imaginations of the heart that must be banished if we want God to use us). More sanding and soaking follow until the arrow is exactly the right size and shape. Another writer says: “This, of course, is a humbling and painful process, but without it we would fail to fly straight or hit the mark. Skipping steps and cutting corners will produce inferior arrows that are useless. Character development is vital if we want to be useful arrows.”

Next, the Archer (our Heavenly Father) places the arrow in his quiver for a prescribed period of time – a waiting room – that will prove whether the arrow will bow or warp. The quiver is a very dark and lonely place where we may feel frustrated as if nothing is being accomplished. If you stay in the waiting room until God takes you out, you will prove to be of great value and accomplish exactly what He has called you to do. We know as Catholics and Cursillistas, Lent is an important time of introspection and preparation. Let God use this time to continue His work in you towards becoming a Polished Arrow, to enable God’s Divine Purpose for your life.

In Part 3, we will cover The Engagement of a Polished Arrow, as an Easter reflection on truly being a vessel of God’s resurrection power in and through your life – which is the ultimate goal of discipleship and making a difference for Christ in the world.

By Bill Bojan 

One of my favorite Scripture verses is Isaiah 49:2-3: “He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, through whom I will show my glory.” Isn’t that a beautiful image? We are meant to be a “polished arrow” in the Lord’s quiver. If we are surrendered and obedient to Him, He pulls us out of His quiver and uses us as a vessel for His power and purposes.

Let’s take a moment to inventory the parts of an arrow and the necessary things to deploy that arrow, as an analogy of how we might be a “polished arrow” in the Lord’s quiver. There are four core parts of an Arrow: The Fletching (feathers on the end of an arrow - direction), the Shaft (the long body of the arrow - strength), the Arrowhead (the point of the arrow - impact), and the Nock (the notch on the end of an arrow - connection). Then, we need a Bow (the power source), an Archer (the ultimate director of the whole process), and a Target (a destination for the arrow). Why I think this analogy is so awesome in the spiritual life ties back to this beautiful scripture from Isaiah. We are that arrow, hopefully a “polished arrow” in God’s quiver. Furthering the analogy, Jesus is the Bow, the power source that we must be connected to by our “Nock” (a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as a disciple), and the Father is the Archer, whose Divine Will determines everything. The Holy Spirit travels with the polished arrow (we as disciples) to help ensure it hits the mark - God’s target (by the way, in archery, the term for missing the mark or the bulls-eye is “sin”).

There is much more to this beautiful analogy that I will share in two follow-up articles: (1) The Making (or Preparation) of a Polished Arrow, which will be coming during Lent as a reflection on God’s process for preparing us to become a “polished arrow” in His quiver - one that He can use to send His power through at a moments notice to accomplish His will. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen by accident and it is not an easy process on our end (Hint: it requires dying to self in Christ); and (2) The Engagement of a Polished Arrow, which will come after Easter as a reflection on truly being a vessel of God’s resurrection power in and through your life – which is the ultimate goal of discipleship and making a difference for Christ in the world.

I have one last point of reflection for you on this introduction to the concept of being a “polished arrow in the Lord’s quiver” and the parallel to the spiritual life: Target – an arrow does not determine it own destination, the Archer does. Power – an arrow has no power on its own, and in fact is quite helpless until it is connected to its power source, the Bow (Jesus Christ), and released by the Archer (God the Father). Timing – an arrow does not choose the timing of when it will be deployed, and it must wait until it is the will of the Archer to engage it.

Bill Bojan 

I used to dread my brother Daniel’s call, since he only called me when someone died. Daniel lives on the same farm that I grew up on. He gets up each morning, pours a bowl of cereal, and reads the obituaries. This is the way of folks who live in a small community. Many feel that missing a funeral is like withholding support.

“Where were you?” they would ask. “What could you possibly have to do that is more important?” I feel fortunate that Daniel is the one who lives close enough to be the family representative now that our parents are gone. I hate funerals. When I was growing up, I felt cheated because of the sheer number of wakes and funerals I had attended. I would literally lie in bed at night and count up all the people I had to see in a casket. I hadn’t even graduated from college yet, and the number was around 25. They weren’t all old, either. Many young people died, many of them relatives. Also, my two closest friends each lost a sibling. Those were the toughest, and it took many years for nightmares about my own brothers’ funerals to end.

On Wednesday my brother texted me: Jon Parks died, funeral Friday. Again the sense of dread invaded my soul. The question: Do I have to go? Should I go? Generally, working in the Cities gets me out of these obligations. Relatives understand. Work comes first. Bereavement days only covered close family, not third cousins whom I hardly knew. But for whatever reason, I decided to go. I called Daniel and made the arrangements, including a few texts to his wife, to confirm the age-old question all women have to ask, “What are you going to wear?”

I got up early, showered, dressed, and got in the car, all on autopilot. As I was driving home I started to doubt my decision. Why am I going? I hadn’t seen Jon since I was in college. I ran into him in the café there while having lunch one day with Kristine, a friend from high school. Jon spotted me and came over to say hi. I’m not sure how the conversation got there, but I remember Jon giving Kristine advice on lifting weights, one of Jon’s many interests. He used to come over when my brothers were in wrestling, and coach them on lifting weights. As I was driving I figured, well, I was already on the road, so I guess I’m going. I asked God to somehow make it worth it. Help me to gain something from this day.

Careful what you ask for…

Jon was an intimidating guy. Tall and very large, he had won several bodybuilding contests, traveling several times to Russia. He had a large face and long hair that partly covered his face. He was the type of person many people would walk away from.

Father gave a very nice eulogy, not having met the guy. He asked the family about Jon, and for words to describe him. They said he was kind, loved animals, and had a soft heart. He had served in Vietnam and had a deep love for his country. He loved learning and had several degrees. A friend also stood up and spoke of Jon. Of all the funerals I’ve been to, I believe this was the first where a lay person actually spoke about the person in the casket. He did a nice job and made Jon sound like a wonderful guy, very caring, first in line to help someone out, a devout Catholic who always found a church on Sunday no matter where he was or how much time he had.

As I listened to all these comments about this man I hardly knew, and basically stayed away from because he intimidated me, I wondered how many others I was missing out on because of worldly judgments, avoidance, and fear. How many people out there are living alone, lonely, wishing they had a family, friends to share a meal with, to talk to, to take care of them, to understand their pain, to support them, and to miss them when they are gone, and who are avoided because they are “different?” I’m not saying Jon was that guy, alone and miserable. Jon had family who obviously cared about him a great deal, and an awesome friend who took time out of his week to prepare a eulogy and speak at his funeral. How many of us have a friend who thinks so highly of us that they would do that? As I said, I’ve been to countless funerals and this is the first one in my recollection that included a friend that spoke.

The answer to my question, and the point God was making in my request to “get something out of the day,” was that there are really neat people out there that we – I – have to stop avoiding and start to SEE. Children of God who have talents and gifts to be shared, living in a world that judges so harshly on appearance that the world is totally missing it. Too many of us judge – we criticize, and we condemn those who are different than us. We walk away when we should walk forward. We are missing out on the great joy of heavenly-sent richness in human beings. I believe everyone has a unique personality that should be embraced and shared, yet we avoid anything that is different because it is uncomfortable and unaccepted by others. While everyone is trying to be like everyone else, fitting in and avoiding those who rebel against that premise, we are missing out on what God’s unique purpose is for us. We need to trust God and be authentic, embrace our differences, learn from each other, and enjoy His unique creations.

Who can you reach out to today?

By A Member of the 4th Day

We invite you to the 2018 Winter Retreat January 5 - 7. We have found that this is a great way to start the New Year.

Here is the synopsis of the retreat theme from King’s House Director, Father Jim Deegan:

“Courage is a gift from God helping us to gently say what we believe, and to hold on to what we know is true. Courage is the ability to face our fears and move beyond them. The secret of courage is to remain in Jesus and allow him to remain in us.

So often we have prayed for the wisdom and courage to change the things we can. Do we have the courage to stand up for something greater than ourselves? Paul reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

We are called to be bold in living our faith, which invites us to face the challenges of life rather than run from them. Join us at King’s House as we reflect on our call to take courage and ACT in the midst of the challenging realities of life.”

Our retreat schedule is Friday evening through midday on Sunday. You can arrive and check in any time between 4 – 7 pm on Friday. (Please remember that there is no Friday evening meal provided at King’s House.)

Although the weekend is packed full of good things (i.e. teaching, sacraments, fellowship, singing, prayer), there is also time to relax, take in the winter beauty, visit with friends, or even take a nap.

The fee this year is $155 per person. Full or partial scholarships are available to cover the cost. We want everyone to attend who wishes to! For scholarship information, contact Jeanne Bendzinski at 612-386-3886.

Please register and pay online at our Cursillo website: tc-cursillo.org. You can also mail your deposit of $30.00, or payment in full, to:

Twin Cities Catholic Cursillo
c/o Pat Croke
15797 Highview Drive
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the retreat, by phone 763-420-6076 or email

winter-retreat@tc-cursillo.org.

God bless you today and always!

Dan & LuAnn Hufstedler